Rt Reverand Keiran Conry, Bishop of Arundel & Brighton, blessed the new Chapel at St Mary’s in a  ceremony on Monday 26th July.

Members of the Grace and Compassion Benedictines were in attendance along with some specially invited guests.  Site Manager John Wells and Contracts Manager Lee Preston from Farnrise were also in attendance.

Sister Kathy said, “Thank you to all the Farnrise staff who have worked on site and behind the scenes during this project and to the many people who have given generously of their time, support and encouragement”.

The chapel is a single storey building constructed using a waterproof reinforced concrete structure set back intothe existing banked gardens. It gives the effect that the building is underground and is the first project of its kind that Farnrise have undertaken.

Farnrise have worked with architects John D Clarke and Partners on this interesting build, to create a building that was functional and modern.  The aim was that the building would not encroach too much on the gardens, but in fact become part of them.